Australian, NZ libraries nominated for international library award

Wednesday, 8 July 2015 Books+Publishing

The Library at the Dock in Melbourne and the Devonport Library in New Zealand have been nominated for the Danish Agency for Culture’s 2015 Public Library of the Year Award.

The Library at the Dock was nominated for ‘its diverse range of learning opportunities for the community from self-directed activities through to formal learning’. This includes an interactive floor designed to teach children basic literacy skills through physical movement and customised games and animations. The library’s ‘highly flexible layout’, supporting technology, sustainable design and exterior signage were other key factors in its nomination.

The Devonport Library was nominated for ‘its strong historical and cultural roots relating to the Maori people and the Victorian built environment’.

Libraries in Sweden, Kenya and Spain were also nominated for the US$5000 (A$6548) award. The winner will be announced on 16 August during the annual International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) congress in Cape Town, South Africa.

Category: Library news